Surma Tribe still practices traditional style of fighting where the king is identified after emerging as a winner from a fierce fight. Their popular fight is known as stick fighting and is strictly by unmarried men.
The fighting is done for the purpose of impressing women. Before the event, people from all walks of lives gather. Unmarried women too gather to identify potential husbands.
The fight is officiated by married men and witnessed majorly my unmarried women.The strange thing is that even if a man is seriously hurt,he should not show any sign of pain.The fights can be furious and can even result in death, but there are also rules in place enforced by a referee. The winner of the fight is allowed to choose a girl of his choice to marry from the tribe. To a girl, being chosen by a champion is considered a great honour. Besides, men who triumph in brutal and bloody fights are considered heroes by the rest of the village and wider tribe. Warriors always fight naked to prove that they’re tough. The battles can be vicious and can result in death of a warrior. If a fighter dies during battle his family will be compensated but if a fighter gets hurt he wil not be granted any form of compensation. Men refuse to show pain – even while bearing deep flesh wounds to prove courageous.
Here are photos from one of the fights:
